County Listing Guide to Lamb County

Published with permission from Peter Keyel, revised 01/26/19
Return to County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains
Dell's map of Lamb Countyincluding eBird Hotspots, locations and routing taken from Peter Keyel's County Listing Guide in the Southern High Plains
TCC's Lamb County

Overview

Lamb county birding is focused primarily around two areas, Littlefield and Olton-Springlake, with some stops in between. Littlefield holds a surprising number of good areas, and is reasonably close to Lubbock (~45 min). The better passerine sites are also located around here. While going north to Springlake/Olton, there are a few other spots that may be worth stopping for, such as CATTLEMAN’S FEEDLOT. Up in Springlake/Olton, the hotspots are primarily playas and mudflats, though geese are more common up in the Olton area. Relative to the general species mix, the biggest challenge for this county is finding warblers and flycatchers in the appropriate habitat.

Route (from Lubbock):
Take Hwy 84 NW up to W Delano Ave. Continue on W Delano Ave and turn west on FM54. Bird the water and bushes across from the LITTLEFIELD WWTP. Take FM54 west to Hwy 385. Turn south on Hwy385 and continue south until you just pass Hwy 84. Turn left on CR310 and continue to the water to bird LITTLEFIELD CR310 PLAYA. Return to Hwy 385 and go south until you reach CR334. Park on CR334 and bird LITTLEFIELD- MAGIC PLAYA. If you wish, continue west and bird CR191 and CR334 area. Return to Hwy 385 and go north until you reach W Delano Ave. Turn left, and then make another left on W 1st St. Turn left again on Westside Ave and park in LAGUNA PARK to bird it. Travel north on Westside Ave back to W Delano Ave, and continue NW to the LITTLEFIELD CEMETERY. Exit the Cemetery on CR292 and cross Hwy 84. Bird LAMB CO CR292 west for a few miles. If you like SANDHILLS STATE HISTORICAL MARKER (not described here, even though others get lots of warblers and other great birds, because it’s been a miss every time I’ve stopped at it), return to Hwy 385 and travel north to stop there on your way north. If you do this, you may want to run the Earth-Springlake-Olton route slightly differently than described here. Instead, I prefer to return to Hwy84 (north on CR151 or east on CR292) and go NW to Amherst. Turn right on FM37 and then left again on 9th St/FM1055. Take FM1055 north to Earth. There is a pond at CR202 that may hold a few shorebirds/ducks. Travel through Earth and then bird the LAMB CO—FM1055 x FM2901 PLAYA. Depending on the time available, you can take CR159 south to bird EARTH CEMETERY and take Hwy 70 east to bird as many of the SPRINGLAKE PLAYAS as you want. Continue on Hwy 70 until you reach Olton. Turn right on Ave I and bird OLTON PLAYA. Return to Hwy 70, go west back to FM1072 and then south on FM1072. Turn left on CR132 on the northern border of CATTLEMAN’S FEEDLOT and bird along CR132 and CR271. Return to FM1072 and head south to return to Lubbock. North of Fieldton, there is a small pond that may hold ducks roughly 1/3 of a mile north of CR202. When FM1072 finally meets Hwy84, turn left to return to Lubbock.

Locations

LITTLEFIELD WWTP

This location is birded from the road. FM54 has high speeds, but pretty low traffic density and good shoulders. Although the official WWTP are south of FM54 behind high berms, the best bird action is actually north of FM54. Park in the north shoulder and look down into the water. This site may hold diving ducks like Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck and herons like Black-crowned Night-heron. Swallows may also be seen on the water. Sparrows may be found in the brush along the north side of the road. If there are large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds along the road here, scan carefully for Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

LITTLEFIELD CR310 PLAYA

This location usually has water, and is probably your best bet for Double-crested Cormorant in the county. It will also be good for herons, and the fields south of the playa can hold sparrows like Grasshopper Sparrow. The trees may hold a warbler or two if you are lucky. To bird this site, park on the side of CR310 just before you reach the main part of the water. Walk/bird the road, taking care to scan the sides of the playa for Spotted Sandpiper and Killdeer. A scope makes viewing the far side of the playa easier.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

MAGIC PLAYA HWY385 x CR334

This is one of the best locations in the Littlefield area. The playa can be scoped from Hwy385 and then again from CR334. Although this location must be strictly birded from the road, the trees along CR334 may hold migrant passerines. The playa may hold a range of dabbling ducks, herons and shorebirds, including Wilson’s Phalarope. Clay-colored Sparrows and other sparrows may be found along CR334, while swallows may rest along the wires. Further west, near CR191 and CR334 may hold a few other birds, but most of those should be easily findable elsewhere.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

LAGUNA PARK

This park has a lot of very tall trees, and tends to flood in the middle. Mississippi Kites, Blue Jay, Chimney Swift, woodpeckers and urban birds can be found in due season. Like other sites in W Texas, this site has great potential when migrants are stalled in the area, but holds less than might be expected at other times. At flood stage, you may find Belted Kingfisher here and some shorebirds.
Access: This small park can be freely walked.
Cost: free
Parking: Multiple parking lots, especially on north and west side of park. Roadside parking also available.

LITTLEFIELD CEMETERY

This is another great location in the Littlefield area. Drive (or walk) slowly along the lines of trees and look for sparrows and other birds feeding underneath. Listen/look for Canyon Towhee and Curve-billed Thrasher. In the winter, the cemetery can hold both Mountain Bluebird and Western Bluebird and rare winter warblers like Cape May Warbler. The southern part of the cemetery holds more grassland-type birds, while the northern part will hold doves and birds that prefer denser conifers. From the power station in the middle, go north, then take the first left and then park. Walk the tree lines north of there. When you exit, leave via CR292, which runs west from the power station. Check the playa on the way out for ducks and other birds. I’ve never heard a rail here, but it looks possible if the water levels are good.
Access: This cemetery can be freely walked. Enter via CR292 or Hwy 84. The area north of CR292 is typically a little birdier than the southeast corner.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadsides in most spots in the cemetery.

LAMB CO CR292

CR292 between Hwy 84 and CR151 has a few playas that are usually dry and lots of grassy habitat. This is a good route for picking up sparrows and other field-type birds. Between CR161 and CR151 is a small copse of trees that could potentially hold migrants. Bird this location only from the road.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

LAMB CO—FM1055 x FM2901 PLAYA

This is one of the best shorebird sites in Lamb county. The NE playa usually holds water, even under moderately low water conditions, and may have ducks, Black Tern, herons, etc. The NW playa is usually more of a mudflat, and tends to have the shorebirds, such as Baird’s Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper and Stilt Sandpipers. There are two more pools down the road on FM2901 on the south that may have a Killdeer or two. FM1055 is usually busier than FM2901, so it is easiest to bird from FM2901. The trees around the house on FM1055 might hold some passerines.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

EARTH CEMETERY

There usually isn’t much here, so if you are pressed for time, skip it. Check the conifers for owls and the other usual birds that like to hide in arbor vitae. During winter irruptions, this site may be worth checking for birds like Red Crossbills, Red-breasted Nuthatches and Townsend’s Solitaire if you’re in the area. Further south of the cemetery, the alley between Hwy70 and 1st street might be as good as the cemetery, and hold more passerines. Access: This small cemetery can be freely walked. It is NE from Earth off CR159
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside within the cemetery

SPRINGLAKE PLAYAS

CR189 playa (on CR189 ~1/3 mile south of Hwy 70)
US385 and CR74 playa
CR229 playa (on CR229 between FM2080 and CR74)
These three playas hold variable amounts of water and individually tend to be less reliable than other locations. However, at appropriate water levels, they will typically hold dabbling ducks and/or shorebirds. Swallows migrating through may also roost and hunt along these playas. Herons and egrets are also possible. They will also hold many of the grassland species present elsewhere in the county. Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside

OLTON PLAYA

Although this playa is visible from Hwy 70, it is advisable to turn off onto Ave I and bird either from there or 5th St. Olton and the surrounding area is the best location for geese in Lamb county. The playa can typically hold large numbers of Cackling Geese. Other geese may be mixed in, as well as diving ducks. It is also a decent location for Mississippi Kites (if you miss them in LAGUNA PARK), and will have more urban birds. If the geese are not there, or the playa is dry, check the fields south of Olton off FM168. There is also a city park that may hold some water and be worth stopping at. Google maps shows a large blue area SE of town. To my knowledge, this is inaccessible.
Access: This small playa can be birded from the road to avoid disturbing the birds on the playa. Best views are from the end of 3rd or 4th St, or the ends of Ave K or J.
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside parking

CATTLEMAN’S FEEDLOT

This location should be birded from the roads, especially CR132 and CR271. In wetter years, there is a lot of water/marshy area around the intersection of CR132 and CR271. Even in drier years, the pond on the feedlot is visible from CR271, though a scope is extremely helpful. The marshy area around the intersection can hold Sora and shorebirds, while the pond may hold ducks and sometimes geese. Raptors, including Peregrine Falcons, Northern Harrier and Swainson’s Hawks, may also hunt the area. Burrowing Owls are present in low density. The feedlot also attracts the expected icterids and doves, while the fields opposite may hold sparrows, and Horned Lark.
Access: Road only
Cost: free
Parking: Roadside